Implications - As technology becomes more sophisticated, products designed to accelerate existing features of smartphones and tablets are becoming a cost-effective means to "buy" new gadgets. This shift towards using existing equipment rather than buy new signifies a preference for products that cut costs without sacrificing new, exciting experiences. [More]

Implications - Allowing those with lower incomes to reap the benefits of what are seen as "unnecessary" tech products, brands are offering consumers attractive cost-conscious alternatives. A stark contrast to an industry that's typically seen as cost-prohibitive, this change is shifting consumers' perception of how far their money can go in the tech market. [More]

Banks and creditors turn to satirical campaigns to become more approachable

Implications - Moving away from traditionally mature marketing strategies, institutions like banks are turning to comical campaign strategies to connect with consumers. Using cartoon characters and millennial references to add humor to experiences such as making loans and managing debt, banks are seeking to not only engage younger audiences, but create a more approachable perception of financial institutions. [More]

Collaborative consumption is becoming more mainstream as consumer values shift

Implications - With little to no risk, any consumer can participate in the peer-to-peer economy, relying on it for everything from carpooling, to toy rentals to kitchen appliance sharing. The movement from B2C from P2C is driven by the sense of community built, the convenience of participation and a growing environmental awareness and distaste for over-consumption. [More]

Implications - Implications - Encouraged to seek higher education by their Boomer parents, Millennials have quickly found out that a diploma does not necessarily yield a prosperous job. The rise of financial issues such as financial literacy and budgeting, Millennials are turning to the familiarity of technology to help gamify their saving and spending to help them out of debt. [More]

Implications - Seeking a more streamlined method of saving money, consumers are turning to apps and digital assistance for efficiency. Filtering through deals and rewards based on consumer preference, digital shopping aids help consumers find promotions in a more automated manner, transforming a traditionally taxing activity into a more streamlined experience. [More]

Implications - Going beyond straightforward money management, banking apps are evolving to be equally concerned with financial literacy as they are with banking. Empowering the consumer with the ability to better understand the benefits of taking financial control, this shift signifies that people are seeking independence when it comes to money. [More]

Implications - Going beyond traditional piggy banks, parents are turning to apps and online features to encourage management skills and financial literacy. Using social media and smartphone usage to combine lessons about finance with entertainment, these digitized techniques speak to a desire to introduce responsibility early on. [More]

Offering discounts for product exchanges, brands push for continued patronage

Implications - In an age where online shopping is growing even more ubiquitous each quarter, the scramble to encourage continued patronage when competition is virtually endless is intensifying the focus for retailers more than ever. As such, the seemingly retro concept of exchange for a discount is being adopted as a means to fulfill consumer demand for savings and brand requirement to have them return. This business model is also augmenting brands to be more ecologically sustainable as a result, thus broadening consumer perception. [More]